Question

Give one functional difference between mRNA and tRNA.

Answer 1

Being the essential component of all living cells, RNAs (Ribonucleic acids) participate in protein synthesis. There are three different types of RNA present in the cell having similar or different functions.

Complete answer:
During protein synthesis mRNA provides a template for gene coding whereas tRNA carries the amino acids to the ribosomes which have to be added to the polypeptide chain.
By transcription process mRNA is formed from DNA and provides a template for protein synthesis. The transcription process is catalyzed by an enzyme called RNA polymerase. In eukaryotic cells, mRNA is formed in the nucleus as heterogeneous RNA, which after processing, introns are removed and exons joined together after splicing to form mRNA and move to the cytoplasm to take part in protein synthesis.
On the other hand, tRNAs are known as soluble RNAs. As the name suggests, they are a carrier of specific amino acids scattered throughout the cytoplasm for coding to the growing end of the polypeptide chain during protein synthesis. Each amino acid has a specific tRNA.

Note: -In mammals, mRNAs are 300 to 12000 nucleotides whereas tRNAs are 76 to 90 nucleotides.
-mRNAs is the site of synthesis is the nucleus whereas tRNA is Produced in the cytoplasm.
-mRNA carries codons for the translation process whereas tRNA carries anticodons, specific to a particular amino acid.
-The mRNA is linear in structure whereas tRNA is the shape of a cloverleaf.